You Can Only Love God As Much...

Friday, March 3


You Can Only Love God As Much…
By: Pastor Todd Crofford


I still remember the first time I heard him say it.  I thought to myself, “That can’t be true, can it?”  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t just a creative, pithy statement- it was biblical.  Here’s what the preacher said,

You can only love God as much as you love the person you like the least.

I am pretty sure that is just an updated way of quoting John, the beloved disciple, who told us:

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
-I John 4:20-21 NIV

Our vertical love for God is best demonstrated by our horizontal love for people.  We can pray for hours, give generously to the offering, memorize the four spiritual laws, and even perfect the preaching of sermons.  But if, in the midst of all of that, we refuse to love and forgive others, all the other stuff is as empty as a pizza box after a Super Bowl party.

Take a few moments and let God examine you.  Is there someone you choose not to like?  Surrender them, and you, to God today.